State House wants more pro-business alcohol regulation

Alcoholic Beverage Control Board critics want it moved from Public Safety to Commerce

The state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is too zealous about cracking down on alcohol violations, and the state’s hospitality industry is pressing the Legislature to rein the agency in.

The House of Representatives responded this week, voting to transferring control of the agency to the pro-business Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. It is currently part of the law enforcement-oriented Department of Public Safety.

Rep. Mike Hawker, R-Anchorage, said the current ABC Board has been “overzealous in its persecution of a legal industry.”

Hawker has led the fight to move the agency, saying it would send a message to the industry.

“We recognize that they are engaged in a legitimate commercial activity and commerce in this state,” he said.

Hawker said he heard complaints about the overzealous agency from the industry, and concluded they were correct.